Inside and Out: The Mind of Mario

The Archives

January 29, 2010

All this week we've been shining a light on our state's juvenile justice system, as we kick off our series Inside and Out. We're asking what it would take to build a system that doesn't just lock up, but actually turns around troubled kids. Most of these young people come from hard circumstances – and everyone knows that's a disadvantage. But now experts say that experiencing trauma can actually alter a child's brain. Violence at home or on the street, neglect, poverty – these have profound effects on how a kid's mind develops.